New York [US], June 29 (HBTV): The group stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026 concluded after thrilling action, with the expanded 48-team tournament producing record-breaking numbers both on and off the pitch across co-host nations Canada, Mexico and the United States.
The first-ever 48-team FIFA World Cup brought together more nations, players and fans than any previous edition. A total of 72 group-stage matches were played across 16 host cities, highlighting the tournament's expanded global reach.
According to FIFA, 4,644,549 spectators attended group-stage matches, while fans consumed around 300,000 hot dogs across the venues. FIFA noted that if the hot dogs sold were placed end to end, they would stretch approximately 28 miles (45 kilometres), roughly the distance between New York, New Jersey Stadium and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The governing body said the tournament featured 1,248 players representing 48 nations, with 999 players making appearances during the group stage. The competition now moves into the knockout phase following a record-breaking group stage that marked the beginning of the biggest FIFA World Cup in history.
A total of 32 teams have qualified for the knockout stage, including 13 from UEFA, nine from CAF, five from CONMEBOL, three from Concacaf and two from the AFC.
According to FIFA, the 2026 edition has set a new benchmark for African representation in the knockout rounds. Nine CAF nations advanced to the Round of 32, the highest number of African teams ever to progress beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup.
Previously, the highest number of African teams to reach the knockout stage was two, achieved by Algeria and Nigeria in 2014, and Morocco and Senegal in 2022.
Concacaf also matched its best-ever representation in the knockout rounds, with Canada, Mexico and the United States advancing. The only other occasion three Concacaf teams reached the knockout stage was at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, when Costa Rica, Mexico and the United States progressed.
Seven nations — Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cabo Verde, Canada, DR Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt and South Africa — qualified for the FIFA World Cup knockout stage for the first time.
Among the tournament debutants, Cabo Verde were the only team to remain unbeaten during the group stage while advancing to the knockout rounds. Kevin Pina also made history by scoring Cabo Verde's first-ever FIFA World Cup goal during the group-stage match against Uruguay.
The group stage produced a record 215 goals in 72 matches, averaging three goals per game, according to FIFA. By comparison, 172 goals were scored during the entire FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
France, Germany and the Netherlands finished as the highest-scoring teams in the group stage with 10 goals each.
FIFA also recorded 1,774 shots during the group stage, averaging 24.6 attempts per match. Belgium registered the tournament-high of 73 shots. Of the 48 participating teams, 47 scored at least once, with Panama the only side to finish the group stage without finding the net. The tournament's all-time goal tally now stands at 2,935.
Canada's 6-0 victory over Qatar entered the record books as the first occasion a Concacaf nation scored more than four goals in a FIFA World Cup match.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi continued rewriting history by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup final tournament matches. Messi also became the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 19 goals, although the record could still come under threat during the current edition, with France captain Kylian Mbappe close behind on 16.
Messi also became the oldest player to score a FIFA World Cup hat-trick at 38 years and 357 days, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was 33 years and 130 days old when he scored a hat-trick against Spain in 2018.
Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo reached another milestone by taking his FIFA World Cup tally to 10 goals, becoming Portugal's all-time leading scorer at the tournament and surpassing Eusebio's nine goals.
England captain Harry Kane also became his country's all-time leading FIFA World Cup scorer with 11 goals, overtaking Gary Lineker's previous record of 10.
The United States also created history during the group stage, with their 4-1 victory over Paraguay marking the first time the Americans had scored four goals in a FIFA World Cup match.
Several individual and team milestones were achieved during the group stage. Curacao head coach Dick Advocaat became the oldest coach in FIFA World Cup history, taking charge at the age of 78 years and 271 days.
South Africa head coach Hugo Broos also entered the record books as the oldest manager to win a FIFA World Cup match at 74 years and 75 days. He surpassed the previous record set earlier in the tournament by Carlos Queiroz, who was 73 years and 108 days old when he guided Ghana to victory over Panama.
Morocco midfielder Ismael Saibari became the first African player to score in three consecutive FIFA World Cup matches.
Japan's 4-0 victory over Tunisia marked the 1,000th match in FIFA World Cup history and also became the biggest-ever win by an AFC nation at the tournament.
Mexico created history by registering four consecutive FIFA World Cup victories for the first time, becoming the first Concacaf nation to achieve the feat.
Senegal also entered the record books by becoming the first African team to score five goals in a FIFA World Cup match.
(ANI)